Wallets have been around for longer than you think. In case you forgot, a wallet is a small leather or fabric case that you slide in your pocket to carry your cash, cards, and other important ID documents. Many of you reading this probably think that they’ve been around since 20th Century, but they’ve actually been around for much longer.
Here are some interesting facts about Wallets
1. The origin of the word “Wallet” can be traced back from the ancient Greek word Kibisis which was the word used to describe the sack carried by the God Hermes. Kibisis has historically been translated as Wallet.
2. A very rare and interesting ancient find which perfectly describes early wallets was the example of one of the oldest examples of a wallet found In the world belonging to Otzi the Iceman. Experts believe this example of ancient human existence being from around 3,300BC.
3. Worn by the ancient Greeks, early variations were shaped like a small pouch or knapsack made from lambskin, cow or horse leather or other kinds of durable fabric. This was worn by tying it around the neck with a drawstring. These wallets were usually attached to a belt and were used to carry around the essential items like food and other provisions.
4. During the 1300’s it was no longer necessary to use wallets to carry around food and other provisions, but instead they held coins and calling cards. A calling card was a small card used for social purposes. Visitors would leave small handwritten notes at the homes of their friends who weren’t at home. In the same way as their Greek and Roman ancestors, these wallets were worn at the hip.
5. They began to take a more familiar shape in the mid 17th century, mainly owing to the introduction of paper money. Flat paper money was first introduced in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1690. Up until this time, the coin currency that was commonly used at the time was transported in small knapsacks which could be more simply described as a purse.
6. By the mid-1800s, the flat case wallet was more commonly used by middle-class men who competed with each other by displaying their wallets stuffed full of cash. These thick wallets were kept on belts as back in the 1800’s pockets were seen as a feminine accessory.
7. The modern leather bi-fold wallet was created in the mid-1900s and become more popular with the introduction of charge cards.
8. Since the invention of the credit card in the 1950s, wallets have evolved to include slots designed just for the square-shaped, plastic charge cards. But you can still find wallets of any variety, including money clip styles that are designed specifically for cash, and checkbook wallets that are large enough to cover your checques.
Well, there you have it, some interesting facts about wallets. If I left out something important, feel free to comment below.
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